BodyMind Living Magazine :: Navigating Stillness :: July 2021 by BodyMind Living

BODYMIND ™

I S S U E N o 8 : : Navigating S T I L L N E S S : : J U LY 2 0 2 1

The self help revolution... Navigated.

DEAR READERS & JOURNEY WITH STILLNESS..........3 LAURA WIECK

STILLNESS IS MEDICINE FOR THE SOUL...............................12 CAROLYN ULITSKY

NAVIGATING STILLNESS IN MOTION.....................................14 DENA HALLE

BODYMIND INVITATION.............21 STILLNESS WASN’T A CHOICE...22 HALINKA VAN MINNEN

HOW DO YOU WANT TO FEEL?...........................................28 MARY PAT CURRAN

WHAT IT‘S LIKE TO BECOME A BODYMIND COACH..................35 BODYMIND LIVING SPOTLIGHT WITH MICHAEL PAQUETTE........36 A STILLNESS MEDITATION.........40 LAURA WIECK

SNAPSHOTS OF STIILLNESS......42 LORI HOFFER

RELEASE THE GUILT AND LEAN INTO STILLNESS.................50 LAURIE JUSZKIEWICZ

AMBASSADOR DIRECTORY........58 CERTIFIED COACH DIRECTORY......................................66

contents

CLOSING THOUGHTS..................71

Welcome to the Navigating Stillness issue of BodyMind Living Magazine! Every month, the Ambassadors and myself get curious to how the magazine topics impact our life. We are not here to be experts, we are here to explore. In doing so, we hope that our words will open something up for you in your life. When I consider my journey with stillness,

I am immediately taken back to a typical day as a field station intern teaching marine biology on a small island in the Bahamas... It had been a long day — I was up at 6am prepping the vehicles for a day trip to the west side of the island — and I only had about 45 minutes before I had to be back to help with dinner and then teach my class for the high school group that was at the field station for the week. The trip leader wanted to pack in as many stops during the day and as many lessons in

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dear readers,

the evening so the students could experience as much of the island as possible during their week stay. Each week at the field station, we had a new group with a new leader who wanted to do the exact same thing. And, because we were short staffed, life as an intern was busy. And my parents thought I was running off to the Bahamas to turn into a lazy beach bum, I quietly laughed to myself as I began to trot slowly down the road. Growing up in the midwest, being ‘busy’ was a badge of honor. Something was wrong with you if you didn’t answer the question, ‘how are you’ with ‘I’ve been really busy lately.’ I trotted slowly along the island road as I approached the first small house, which also functioned as a strawshop, about a quarter mile up the road. The coral pink siding had handmade baskets hanging all around the outside of the modest home. Under the porch, I could make out the tiny frame of the elderly matriarch of the community, Ms. Mirley.

Laura Wieck :: JOURNEY WITH STILLNESS “The sun is up. I’m alive. God is good!” She said, her smile grew even wider. And with that, she closed her eyes and began humming a hymn quietly to herself.

“Personally for myself, I noticed how much I pray for a moment of stillness and avoid it and resist it so hard (laughing)!” ((CLICK THE IMAGE ABOVE TO PLAY THE VIDEO)

There she was, like every other day I passed her while out on my run, gently fanning herself with her eyes closed and murmuring a quiet prayer. She must have heard my feet falling on the pavement or maybe the heaviness of my breath trying to breathe through the thick, humid air because she gently opened her eyes and a huge smile lit up across her face. I knew what was coming next.

Now this is the point in the story where I’m supposed to tell you her words hit a nerve that led to an epiphany that stopped me in my tracks and pulled me back to the porch to sit in stillness with Ms. Mirley where, for a brief moment, I saw God. That’s not what happened at all. What happened was… I kept running. Just as you’ll read this month about how our amazing Ambassadors have widely varied journeys in navigating stillness, thoughts kept swirling. And I kept letting the busyness of life spin me in circles. I ran past Ms. Mirley’s house nearly every day, and even walked to church with her on Sundays where she reminded me to see the grace in every moment. And while Ms. Mirley worked hard, raised a family, and contributed to her community — all the qualities I was raised to value — she was never ‘busy.’

“Girl, look at that booty,” she lovingly joked as I ran past, “always in a hurry to go nowhere!” She said the same thing every time I ran past her house.

Everything she did always came from a place that was grounded, peaceful, and still. She didn’t rush. She was deeply connected. There was always a presence in every thing she did.

“Good afternoon, Ms. Mirley,” I shouted while I continued my slow, sweaty jog down the road, “How are you today?”

It has taken me nearly 20 years to fully understand the lesson that she demonstrated all those years ago:

the stillness.

My hope for you as you read this month’s issue is that you notice what happens when you disconnect from the chatter of your mind, connect back into your body, and feel the fullness of the moment. And, while the only true stillness that any of us will ever experience is when our final breath has left our body, there is something in those precious moments where I feel a deep sense of peace, connection, and purpose. But if I’m honest, any time I sit down to meditate, I want to grab my phone and check my email every five seconds. I’m constantly listening to audiobooks and

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There is magic in

podcasts because I have a hard time shutting off my brain. I hate taking baths because after three minutes, the water starts getting cold and sitting there doing nothing feels like torture! Between Zoom meetings, raising a toddler, and working on projects, I hear my soul praying for a moment of stillness. And then as soon as that moment arrives, I avoid it so quickly and default to checking social media! Can you relate, dear reader? Do you crave stillness, yet resist it all at the same time? I’m a midwest girl raised in a middle class family where I was taught the importance of hard work. I’m grateful for the lessons my parents instilled in me because many of them have allowed me to create the life I have now.

Laura Wieck :: JOURNEY WITH STILLNESS

If I’m not busy, I’m lazy. If I’m lazy, then I’m not contributing. If I’m not contributing, then I’m worthless. Do I resist stillness because, underneath, I still feel like I’m worthless?

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But the one thing I have always fought against (yet fallen into) was the idea of being ‘busy.’ Somehow, the stamp of approval for working ‘hard enough’ was being ‘busy.’

I love the Psalm, “be still and know that I am God.” I can feel those words in my soul. In those moments where I can come into stillness, the sensation I experience is pure love. If God is love, then stillness is our path to God. So what does that mean the opposite is? Be busy and try to be your own god? Just writing that, I can see how my busyness often comes from a desire to play God in my own life. To try and control the outcome by working hard and proving my worthiness.

Do you crave stillness

Ms. Mirley showed me that being in stillness was actually the starting point and the pathway

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Yet also ingrained in me is my time with Ms. Mirley and the image of her sitting in stillness and fully alive in the moment. Ms. Mirley worked hard. Ms. Mirley raised a family. Ms. Mirley contributed to her community. These are all the same qualities I was taught to value. The difference being, I was shown that being busy was the path to reaching those goals.

to contribution because coming from stillness means you are always acting from connection, not scarcity. As we step into this month’s issue, I invite you to feel into your breath and connect back into stillness. Get curious about what might be possible in our lives, our communities, our work, our contribution to the world if we allowed ourselves to stop idolizing busyness and prioritized stillness. With love, Laura

yet resist it at the same time? #BodyMindLiving #NavigatingStillness #Connection

Carolyn Ulitsky :: STILLNESS IS MEDICINE FOR THE SOUL

in my head to figure things out and ignored the signs from my body, my body spoke to me in really loud ways. Like the time I broke out into shingles. Full body shingles. YES! My entire body. Navigating stillness for me has been shaped by pain. How do you get stillness from pain? What is this journey from pain to stillness? If you embrace the stillness, what will happen? What have you defined stillness to be? Pain is what causes me to stop. I often have not done a great job of listening to the subtle discomforts my body presents. I push past the discomforts and become logical and action-oriented to complete things. My mind and the action of “doing” takes over. It has taken a few extremely painful moments

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At a very critical moment in my life, I learned the more I stayed

in my life for my body to get my attention. Here are the three kinds of pain I’ve identified that have shaped my journey with stillness: #1: If I’m still, I’ll die. In moments like these, I’m always in motion. I only stop when it’s time to eat or sleep. The doing is constant. Not present to what my body, mind, and heart need. And, painful things happen, like I throw my back out and I can’t move the next day. In that stillness, you find you. #2: Pain caused by stagnation. This is when I’m not moving enough, escaping myself by getting lost in reading a book, over indulging in binge watching, etc. The perceived resting. My body is sore from just sitting around. I’m sleep deprived, with bags under my eyes. In that stillness, you recognize you can’t lose yourself. #3: Forced movement. Obligations — everything and everyone else is important — keeping myself so busy because so much is expected. No time for me. I don’t notice I’m not eating or sleeping well. My shoulders and jaw may be hurting. I just go, go, go. In that stillness, you learn you are a part of your life’s equation. I’m going to focus on the last type of pain to illustrate being forced into stillness.

Carolyn Ulitsky :: STILLNESS IS MEDICINE FOR THE SOUL

Life is always in motion. Whatever is happening in your day that causes the stress, whatever has captured your thoughts, having you hold your breath, it’s time to stop. (CLICK THE IMAGE ABOVE TO PLAY THE VIDEO)

I spent so much time trying to figure it out. I spent a lot of time in my head justifying being busy and doing it “for the family.” I ignored all my body’s signals — feeling tired, not sleeping, not eating, just doing the business. I didn’t want to entertain a divorce for a second time. Geez, let alone who divorces a blind man? So much anger, shame and guilt were building up in my head and in my body. The more I stayed in my head to figure things out and ignored the signs from my body, my body finally broke out into shingles. Full body shingles.

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It was September 1, 2014, and I was ignoring the obvious pain of my 15 year marriage/17 year relationship. I had poured myself into my business to make sure I could handle my husband’s increased loss of eyesight at the time. He had an eye condition called Retinitis Pigmentosa, and I wound up carrying the financial load when he retired early from his job as a scientist. We had our younger daughters to finish putting through college. Neither my husband nor I really were addressing the obvious. We made forced motions to help the relationship. We did all kinds of counseling, and what I came to realize is unless we got really honest with ourselves or each other as partners, and addressed the underlying issues, nothing got resolved and there would be no healing movement forward.

Yes, my entire body! Then, I was forced to take time off. I was forced to really look at what was hurting my heart. One night, I was so frustrated with the physical pain and the torment in my mind all I wanted to do was cry and I couldn’t. It took my youngest to step into my room and tell me gently, “Enough. It’s ok you know what to do. We know you’ve done everything to make it work.” She gave me a hug, and at that moment, I let myself cry. What a jolting moment! My daughters were watching me suffer. All that spinning in my head — guilt, shame, anger — kept me from seeing the next step. It was through this forced movement that I finally accepted the obvious: my marriage, as it was, no longer served either of us. We had grown apart and wanted different things. Interestingly enough, as I took those next painful steps of communicating this realization, my symptoms began to resolve. What I learned so powerfully is when I go into my head and I disconnect from my body and heart, I create pain and suffering. My forced, go, go, go, movement in an effort to keep everyone else’s needs before my own was resisting the change that would allow more flow for me and really for my former husband. I ignored my values and my body when I was in “the doing” of my relationship. I needed to reconnect those parts of me, my whole being, to make the best decision.

Carolyn Ulitsky :: STILLNESS IS MEDICINE FOR THE SOUL

When I take a moment to acknowledge to myself what I need, ask for what I need, and accept it by stepping into and allowing myself to embrace my desire and be embraced, I notice my breath catches, my heart quivers, my body pauses … then, my body quietly shakes, I surrender my thoughts, and my heart gently opens. My body, mind, heart can gently reset and tears begin to flow. There have been many times I have ignored the obvious physical discomforts because something else is perceived as more important.

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What I learned in the pain...

Stillness is a medicine that takes a moment of you witnessing and accepting yourself, a prescription to pause in the middle of the motions of life or commotion of life and allow what’s occurring to move through us in that pause… the stillness. When we invite in the gentleness of the medicine that stillness offers, that quietness is all we need to heal the perceived broken part of ourselves. Being still with your pain, what wisdom does it offer you? What pain or discomfort are you avoiding being still with?

stillness is a prescription to... ... pause

#stillness #navigating #allow #invite

CAROLYN YANIT ULITSKY BodyMind Coach, Muscle Therapist

Carolyn is the owner of SomaWise Muscle Therapy. Her interest in the holistic healing arts spans over 20 years. She is most passionate about assisting her clients in creating connections back into their body, heart and mind so they can live a joyful and full life. She helps her clients relate to their pain and guides them to the deeper meaning so that they can build a better relationship with themselves and their body. Carolyn’s practice is in Pleasanton, California. She has 3 adult daughters and a son in-law. SomaWiseMT.co IG: @somawisemt

Dena Halle :: NAVIGATING STILLNESS IN MOTION

immediately think of it as the opposite of movement or motion, but stillness is something quite different for me altogether. In the dictionary, stillness is equal to silence and immobility, a noun defined as “silence; quiet; hush; the absence of motion.” I struggle with the definition of stillness being the absence of motion. In my mind there is never true stillness within our body, nature, or life. Our natural state of being is not still or silent. What do I mean? There is no stillness — no complete quiet, complete still, no total removal of movement. There is always the energetic... * Our hearts beat * We have breath * Our internal body parts are working to keep us alive

When we hear the word stillness many of us

* Outdoors the breeze is moving the trees, grass and flowers * Insects are doing their jobs * The earth’s animals and people are in motion and not silent, singing and conversing in their own languages * The sky is in motion with weather patterns * The sun is constantly orbiting the earth * The sounds of life in motion Motion helps me find my stillness and connects me to my knowing, my innermost, my internal GPS, my connection to self, my God, the Holy Spirit, the universe and my people. We all hold stillness within us that we can bring to anything we do, without necessarily being immobile and still. This stillness is accessible to all of us on an energetic level everyday in all that we do. For me stillness is an energetic quality of being. I believe it is naturally present in the heart of every human being, equally so. Sometimes after too many sips of caffeine or an intense situation I might not feel it, but it is still always there — yet, sometimes I get disconnected from it. So, why is it so difficult to be still if stillness is our natural state of being? It seems as if everything in the way we choose to live takes us

Our social programming will always leave us tired, exhausted, overwhelmed and underwhelmed. We have to leave the social programming, turn down the noise and connect back into our knowing to find our stillness, our restoration, our way of how we do life. Finding stillness is my opportunity to dissipate all the ways that the community, the government, the church, the world, our families, the people in our ears, our schools, etc. tell me how to live. It’s the opportunity for me to choose, listen, be guided and trust me. In my stillness I receive answers, guidance, clarity, vision, ease, and a rhythm to bring into my daily life. Stillness requires a surrender, but what are we surrendering to? I see stillness as a choice. It can be felt by living in a state of presence where I remain connected to myself and am completely present in my body, mind and soul. I am at one with everything, and everyone

away from ourselves. The constant distractions, being too busy, noises, stress, emotions, stimulating food and drink, ideals and beliefs, protective mechanisms, anxiety — you name it. This way of life then becomes our daily lived experience, which we perceive as “normal,” when it is not and we allow it to perpetuate. This perpetuation keeps me disconnected from stillness. And yet, the stillness is always there and is so needed, longed for, and worth reconnecting to.

in all that I do. My life flows with a simple rhythm — the rhythm of my stillness. In this quality of presence, there is something that stands still, but it is not absent of physical movement. Rather, it is my beingness that remains unaffected by any movement, action or doing even though it moves, acts and does. It is like the depth of the ocean unaffected by its waves. It is the ability to surrender to my inner-heart, inner knowing, and live from here in all that I do. The enemy of my stillness is fear. I surrender to stillness in my heart and let go of protection and security. I love motion, I crave it, I rely heavily on the physical motion to keep my mobility. I find my embodied state by doing certain things

Dena Halle :: NAVIGATING STILLNESS IN MOTION

In the last two years I have experienced forced physical stillness in my life. It came in the forms of cancer, Covid-19, and severe injuries due to a cycling accident. With each of these “opportunities,” I struggled with the reality of knowing that these three things would bring change to my physical capabilities of motion, my routine, and take away the very thing that kept my life sustainable and created a deep connection within myself. I grieved the loss of my motion with each of these. It took time for me to coach myself out of some dark and grieving moments. And then, I discovered that what I really wanted is to feel connected, deep stillness, in relationship with myself — in the activity of being. Not just in the activities of doing! The walk, hike, run, paddle, bike ride are amazing, but I was reminded that my stillness doesn’t solely come from all the doing. It also comes from being. Sure the doing of the things that helped me find my stillness were helpful, but my stillness was still there for me. Still in motion and all around me. I know many are in search of the opportunity to be still. In my own life, raising four kids with two working parents, there wasn’t a lot of time to find our physical stillness. There were dance recitals, ball games, swim meets, clubs, and all that stuff that goes along

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that get me out of my head and centered back into my body. This embodied state through movement has kept my life sustainable in so many ways. I need it.

with those activities. The days were filled with motion of pickups and drop-offs, spectating along with the basic acts of survival like nutrition, grocery shopping, and laundry. It was a constant race to get all the things done. We would schedule a family vacation a few times a year to find and connect to ourselves again, our stillness. But really, as much fun, deserving, and amazing as they were, this type of stillness is and was not sustainable for me or any of us. We also tried the external ways of reconnecting with spa dates, massage, movie nights at home, meeting friends for dinner and/ or drinks. We were escaping and even numbing ourselves to create stillness. We cannot create stillness. It is already there. It is internal. We can’t look for it and find it. It is already available wherever we are. Therefore, stillness is not something we have to go in search of, nor is it a journey into escapism or numbness. It is where we come from and what we are innately made of, and thus it is our natural state of being. ………… The rock I stare at every day from the backyard of my house is still, yet there is movement and life all around it. Nothing else around it is still. Life is happening. Fish are swimming, water is flowing, birds are flying, nesting, frolicking, soaring, and the big ones are fishing for their survival. The ducks, the geese, the wind and 17

Dena Halle :: NAVIGATING STILLNESS IN MOTION

ABOVE TO PLAY THE VIDIO.)

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I’m coming to you today from my backyard in Eastern Washington that sits on the beautiful Columbia River. I spend a lot of time back here connecting to nature and all the things here in motion — nothing really sits still here. (CLICK THE IMAGE

clouds continue to move with the ever-changing current. The highway that runs alongside this giant “still” rock plays host to the many commuting and traveling vehicles that pass by at high speeds. The speed and height of the river surrounding it is always unpredictable due to Mother Nature and those that manage the needs of the damn. Life is in constant movement (motion) around this rock, yet there is stillness. I look at this rock every morning before I rise out of my bed and throughout my day. It is the constant steadfast reminder that Life flows in motion, yet stillness is ever present. Can it be possible to feel spacious and still while dealing with the demands of life? Can it be possible to live life deeply connected to who you are and to life at the same time? What happens when we acknowledge the true power that stillness holds? Perhaps one answer can be found in this quote from a favorite childhood movie of mine, The Wizard of Oz: “If I ever go looking for my heart’s desire again, I shouldn’t look any farther than my own backyard.”

Dena Halle :: NAVIGATING STILLNESS IN MOTION

DENA HALLE, LMT, ACT/L BodyMind Coach, BA Sports Medicine, Licensed Athletic Trainer

Dena is a cancer survivor that is passionate about closing the gap between surviving vs thriving in life, wellness, and business. She guides clients, cancer survivors, wellness professionals and creative entrepreneurs in navigating and revolutionizing their life and business so that they can stop the overwhelm, create ease and build real tangible health and wealth. Dena is a multi-faceted life coach, business mentor and consultant. She combines her knowledge and certifications to create transformational outcomes for her clients. When not working, she travels the world to assist elite athletes and professionals in performing their best from both body and mind. She loves intentional time for exercise, family, friends, hiking, cycling, paddling and floating in the water at her river home and in Maui. DenaHalle.com FB: Dena Halle Massage Wenatchee IG: @StopFeelingStuck

stillness is our natural state of being. #StillnessInMotion #Navigating #Being

I was talking to an amazing Massage Therapist recently. She has been practicing for nearly 15 years and has a schedule that is booked solid with amazing clients. By industry standards, she is definitely ‘successful.’

And that’s when she said it: “I feel stuck. I’ve been doing the same thing, day in and day out for years with my clients. And while I love every single one of them, it’s starting to wear on me.” “I mean, I got into this business to help people heal and I’ve taken loads of CE classes to refine my skills. But it just feels like I’ve hit this invisible ceiling in my business where my income is capped, my time is capped, and my clients keep complaining about the same stuff.” This was the kicker…“You know the worst part — even though I know I’m amazing at what I do, I still feel like I have to justify myself and my rates to compete with new therapists and the franchises. I’ve done everything I can to be successful and I feel like I’ve ‘made it.’ But inside, I KNOW there is a better way and I just can’t seem to figure it out for myself.” Can you relate? I know I can — that is exactly where I was just a few years back. Maxed out. On the brink of burn out. And starting to wonder… how I could continue to do the work I love without working myself to the ground?

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An invitation to you...

I knew there was a better way to work, but I had to charter a new path to find it. I made a commitment to myself that I would figure out how to work smarter, not harder (which, as a Massage Therapist, was no small feat!). I consciously structured my business to honor me so that I could bring my BEST self into my work. The results were clear: — Within 6 months, I doubled my income and had my first 6-figure year. — I CUT BACK the number of clients I worked on (from 25 per week to 12 per week). — My clients took empowered action between appointments (i.e. all the advice I had been giving them for years, they finally followed through) and were getting amazing results. — I felt a deep sense of purpose and fulfillment in my work that had been missing for years. I believe it is time for a *NEW ERA* of bodyworkers. My mission is to support hands-on and heart-centered practitioners to honor themselves, serve their clients and build their businesses in a healthy way. ~

Laura

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Halinka Van Minnen :: STILLNESS WASN’T A CHOICE

One that I didn’t ask for, nor one I wanted. Stillness wasn’t a choice, but forced; determined and dictated by numbers calculated with biweekly blood tests. Tests that my body consistently failed. I was 9 when I was diagnosed with ITP (Idiopathic Thrombocytopenic Purpura — say that five times fast!), a rare bleeding disorder in which the immune system destroys the platelets necessary for normal blood clotting. The lucky kids who receive this diagnosis have it resolved within 12 months; their body functioning the way it was designed. I wasn’t one of the lucky ones. Biweekly blood tests for seven years that

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My story doesn’t exist. It’s unique. Mine.

decided if and how I could be active. Every Tuesday and Friday I would call the lab for the results that decided what I got to do. My platelet count determined my life. 35 = Ok, Halinka, you can play volleyball, but no basketball. 29 = Yes you can swim, but absolutely no diving off the diving board. 22 = Halinka, it’s time to come to the hospital; we will see you at 2pm for your transfusion. 11 = Don’t pack a bag, get here now. Drive safe. Numbers under 20 required a hospital visit for Intravenous immunoglobulin (IVIG) treatments, which raised my platelets temporarily before they crashed after 3 weeks. The first week, I always felt amazing. My energy levels were high, and I was allowed to do anything I wanted without fear of bruising or bleeding or internal hemorrhaging, a word no 9–year–old should know. I was the opposite of still at this time as I had to get in all the play time and activities I had missed in a confined window of time. Yet, there was always that dreaded moment when the results were such that I packed my bag and

I learned to fear stillness. Stillness meant wearing the blue open back hospital gown that smelled stale and had an unnatural stiffness to the fabric. Stillness meant being hooked up to equipment that constantly hummed and beeped, keeping me confined to a mattress that never was comfortable. Stillness meant keeping my arm and hands in stiff positions because that was the spot they were able to access since my veins were shot after so many IVs. Stillness meant I was sick. After seven years I made a decision to try the last resort and elected to have my spleen removed, giving me a 50% chance that would allow me to live the way I wanted without fear of bleeding. I flipped the coin and bargained a life without significant bruising and bleeding for a life with a significantly weakened immune system. I am now 22 years spleenless. I am one of the lucky ones; my ITP is in remission. Although this is something to be so joyous over, I am unable to do so. That part that I bargained for an active life still forces me into stillness when I’m sick. Feeling that I always have to try to be one step ahead and trying to outrun the inevitable stillness my body forces me into because it’s not working the way

went to stay in the hospital for yet another treatment.

it’s supposed to. The paradox is if I learned to embrace stillness vs fear it wouldn’t require the extreme #2x4 therapy that then happens to give my body the rest it requires. #2x4 therapy: divine intervention that whacks you over the head and forces you to listen. There has been resentment of the forced stillness, and I find myself naturally wanting to be in a constant state of doing. In order to navigate stillness I have learned that stillness doesn’t have to mean nothing. There can be stillness in the momentum of life. It’s not an either/or, sick or healthy, stillness or doing. I can experience moments of stillness. Stillness is accepting the invitation in the pause. Stillness is experienced in the first sip of coffee, the pause between being aware of the steam and aroma hitting my nose and the warm, velvety taste experienced by my tongue. Stillness is the moment when I notice all the different shades of green in nature during a road trip. Stillness is in my prayer thanking God before my meal. Stillness is in the intentional breath I take as I connect to my body either before an intense workout or before I fall asleep.

Halinka Van Minnen :: STILLNESS WASN’T A CHOICE

Navigating stillness has never been easy for me. For me it meant years of really avoiding stillness because stillness meant being sick. (CLICK THE IMAGE ABOVE TO PLAY THE VIDEO.)

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Stillness is experienced when I am fully present, engaging in all my senses, fully integrated body, mind and soul. Navigating stillness no longer becomes forced nothingness, but a fully engaged process. A process that is not forced, but allows room for choice. Choosing to accept that rest is an essential part of my hustle and growth can be a part of my stillness.

As I learn to navigate stillness, I learn that I no longer have to be resentful of the body God gave me.

Navigating stillness in this way has taught me that my body is a gift.

stillness is accepting the invitation in the pause. #Choice #ITP #NavigatingStillness #Health 26

HALINKA VAN MINNEN Certified BodyMind Coach

Halinka is the creator of The Happy & Healthy Place. With her 14 years as a massage therapist, Halinka learned that just treating physical discomfort only provides a band aid approach. As a BodyMind Coach Halinka works with women who experience chronic stress and pain, helping them align with possibility so they can live happy and healthy on purpose. Her clients discover they don’t have to live in a constant state of chaos. Instead they learn to treat their bodies as a best friend learning new behaviour patterns that beat stress and decrease pain to allow them to be fully present in their life. Halinka also holds a Health Science degree and is a yoga instructor. Halinka’s faith is her anchor and driving purpose in life. She lives in Ontario, Canada. thehappyandhealthyplace.com IG: @HappyHealthyPlace FB: happyandhealthyplace

Mary Pat Curran :: HOW DO YOU WANT TO FEEL?

“How do you want to feel?”

This is the question I learned to ask my massage clients. It is a question that gives the responsibility of the outcome of the massage to the client rather than being solely the job of the therapist. When I was a full time massage therapist, I cared more about how my clients felt IN their bodies than how their bodies felt. Does that make sense? I knew and understood the physiology, pathologies, and methods to use to ease pain and discomfort of their physical body, but I cared more about reducing their stress and getting them to breathe, and maybe even rest. THAT was my goal.

Mary Pat Curran :: HOW DO YOU WANT TO FEEL?

Sometimes, clients didn’t know what to say. They’d answer, “I want to be relaxed.” That opened up possibilities for more questions: “Does relaxation feel refreshed or calm? Do you want to feel light like a cloud or grounded like a forest?” Sometimes I’d offer, “If you could be a color, what color would you want to be at the end of the massage?” And as they explored that answer, I’d add, “What color are you at now?” This would help me know where they were and where we had to get to. If they were feeling red and wanted to get to blue, that might take a bit, but if they were already feeling green, and blue was the desired feeling, it was closer because those colors are closer. My all time favorite reply was “I want to be a smooth white pebble.”

I never liked the goal of the session being left open to me, which is often what would happen when new clients would say, “Just do whatever you feel.” I always wanted a starting point or a place to begin. More importantly, I wanted the clients to participate in their session. They needed to have ownership of the experience because if not, then I’m just pushing on tissue, not a whole being. The question of “How do you want to feel?” was the perfect way for my clients to know I wasn’t just there to manipulate their limbs, but that I wanted to bring ease to the whole of them.

“OOOOhhh, I like that,” I answered, “so you want to feel blank and fresh, like a clean slate?” “Exactly.” And that reply let me know where my energy needed to be to support her in our session. Sure, she might have had a specific issue as well, I don’t really recall, but I knew how to deliver a feeling of cleaning off the interior yuck she was experiencing so she could leave feeling blank, smooth and rested. What does this have to do with navigating stillness? Well, I was the therapist you came to when you wanted to feel “put back together” as one of my therapist friends said. Stillness helps us put ourselves back together. Even if we’ve come undone in stillness, in the end, there is a completeness that happens. I wanted my clients to have stillness in their sessions with me, which is why I always started with a question of intent rather than a litany of their problems. I’d answer their questions and ask about pressure or inform them to turn or shift, but otherwise I stayed quiet so my clients could settle into stillness. I allowed my clients a brief experience of stillness and how it can refresh and soothe. However, it’s not always easy to get to stillness — inner stillness that is. You can’t just drop into it like dropping into a couch.

Mary Pat Curran :: HOW DO YOU WANT TO FEEL?

Stillness is the same. same.

You cannot expect it to be immediate. It is a relationship that requires trust and gentleness on the entrance and exit. In a massage, I would never end a session without letting my client know, hands motionless on their backs or feet, and my words, “Thank you for letting me work with you today,” informing them we were finished. I wouldn’t turn on all the lights and storm out, slamming the door. No, I’d turn on one soft light, if needed, leave the room, and quietly shut the door. Exiting stillness requires the same gentleness for me. I need to honor the stillness by being gentle as I exit it. Those sharp interruptions to my meditation or other moments of stillness are jarring and unsettling.

First you have to say “hello;” then, let yourself surrender and sink in. Just like in massage, I couldn’t simply start off the massage by grabbing a client’s trapezius muscles and squeezing like heck. I’d need to simply touch the skin, then move my hands around warming up the surrounding areas. Then I could apply more pressure and direct attention.

Going from stillness back to movement needs a space of gentleness. I need to return to my body and then my life in a way that allows the gifts I gain from being still to be savored a bit longer. Choosing to enter stillness is also like choosing to get a massage. It always felt off to me when someone who received a gift certificate for a massage would come in because I often could tell they really didn’t want to be there. Massage benefits you when you willingly choose to be at the session, to be honest about the sensations of the body, and share what you really need. Beginning and maintaining a practice of stillness is the same. I need to be willing to show up, remove the distractions, and be comfortable with the uncomfortableness of stillness. Yes, there are benefits from just attempting stillness, just as there are some benefits to receiving a massage even if you may not have wanted to at the beginning. Saying yes to the possibility of stillness, I believe, is a key to the impact that a session of stillness can have. And it is a practice that I have difficulty maintaining. It is difficult because there are so many other things to do: laundry, work, clients, content creation, books to read, pages to color, distractions to use.

But when I do choose to say, “Hello, stillness, I’m here for my session,” I always feel better, and there is always a benefit, even if I plunge back into my day and distractions afterwards. My body and spirit recognize we had a respite, and that matters. Being from a society that cherishes and perpetuates motion and achievement, stillness is odd. I want to invite you to ask yourself, “How do I want to feel?” to enter a session with stillness. Since stillness is vast, intimate, and wise, we may not receive an exact response to our answer, but it opens up the possibility to receive something… however intangible it might be.

Sometimes, when we navigate stillness, we have to break it down to the smallest, most minute thing that we can deal with. (CLICK THE IMAGE ABOVE TO PLAY THE VIDEO.)

Mary Pat Curran :: HOW DO YOU WANT TO FEEL?

stillness is vast, intimate and wise

MARY PAT CURRAN, LMT BodyMind Coach

As the owner of Intentional Flow Mary Pat Curran coaches her clients using her gifts of presence and possibility. Mary Pat (MP) was an educator of adults & youth for 13 years prior to attending massage school. In 2013 she opened her own business and in 2018 began offering BodyMind Coaching as a missing piece for her clients’ transformation. Mary Pat loves helping her clients learn more about themselves so that they can grow into their intentions without having to become someone else to succeed. Through embodying their unique values, goals, and desires. MP’s clients not only reach their goals, they become who they are meant to be. Originally from Chicago, Mary Pat currently resides in Lexington, Kentucky with her hubby, children and dog. IntentionalFlow@gmail.com FB: Intentional Flow IG: @IntentionalFlow LI: Mary Pat Curran

and opens up all possibilities. #NavigatingStillness #BodyMindLiving #Possibility #HowDoYouWantToFeel #Gentleness #CleanSlate #Rest 35

BODYMIND LIVING SPOTLIGHT :: MICHAEL PAQUETTE

stillness became my biggest

opportunity for real

meaningful change…

#BodyMindLiving #NavigatingStillness #Meditation #Journaling #Rest #Breath 36

FRIDAY, JULY 2, 2021 :: JOIN US ON FACEBOOK FOR THE LIVE INTERVIEW

“

WITH LAURA WIECK AND MICHAEL PAQUETTE...

For stillness, I start by just noticing and listening to the thoughts that come at me without judgement, as if letting a friend vent their frustrations. Eventually, themes start to emerge, and I begin to see myself a little clearer. In the stillness before anyone else was awake and after everyone had fallen asleep, I was able to be with myself, learning, sorting and feeling. ... ... ... ... Michael Paquette, LMT, Certified Health Coach and BodyMind Coach Michael worked in the corporate world for over 20 years before becoming a massage therapist in 2015. He owns and operates Paquette Massage LLC where he coaches clients to live a purpose-driven life aligned with who they truly are by reconnecting with themselves and with the natural world around them. Michael believes the closer we can be to nature, the more authentic we can become, living fulfilling, enjoyable and limitless lives that exceed anything we can imagine. Michael is from Philadelphia and currently lives with his wife and son in Chester County, PA. He loves to get out in nature fishing, hiking and camping whenever he can. PaquetteMassage.com mike@paquettemassage.com FB: paquettemassage IG: @paquette_massage

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BODYMIND LIVING SPOTLIGHT :: MICHAEL PAQUETTE Q&A

BodyMind living is all about being authentically me and living a life aligned with who I am and what I believe in. Prior to practicing BodyMind principles, it was difficult even determining what living this way would actually mean for me, let alone how to actually do it. I have always been moving and acting a mile a minute, always having my ever growing, never finished to-do list and somewhere along the line I left myself behind… thinking “that’s ok, eventually I will catch up.” The truth is, I continued to get further and further away from who I am, so much so that I lost sight of who I am, what my core values are, likes, dislikes, etc. I became a stranger to myself in favor of “who I needed to be” for the task or audience at hand. The thought of taking the time to rediscover myself was overwhelming and filled me with anxiety as I was always “too busy.” It turns out, I could only push myself so far. I began to face health issues. For years, I had successfully managed my Ulcerative Colitis and Crohn’s disease through dietary changes, but the stress of my life started causing flare ups, impacting my work and home life. I would get angry at the least little thing and wonder why. When I looked in the mirror, I didn’t even recognize myself and the person looking back at me was not someone I was very happy 38

What does BodyMind living mean to you?

with. I was exhausted, overwhelmed and didn’t know what to do, so I sat. Early in the morning and late at night, I sat with myself. I let my mind wander around and at first, it was utter chaos because when thoughts came up, I would analyze, criticize and “correct” myself for each thought. I would get myself upset about these thoughts as any of them were directly opposed to who I had become. I began to realize that little by little over the years, I had created this “character” that I played at work to succeed and eventually it was not just work, but my public persona and ultimately, this persona became a full time role. As I invited more BodyMind principles into my life, I was able to reflect on what I desire and create space for myself. How do you navigate stillness? I start by just noticing and listening to the thoughts that come at me without judgement, as if letting a friend vent their frustrations. Eventually, themes start to emerge, and I begin to see myself a little clearer. In the stillness before anyone else was awake and after everyone had fallen asleep, I was able to be with myself, learning, sorting and feeling. The stillness that had terrified and overwhelmed me at first became the biggest opportunity for real, meaningful changes in my life. Without all the activity

In reconnecting with myself, I have found a strong desire to reconnect with nature (as a child, I loved hiking, fishing, camping and just being outside in general). As often as I can, I walk in nature, just observing and experiencing the world around me. I find it nearly impossible to be anything but authentic and free when I experience the stillness of the forest or sit at the side of a stream or lake. Not only does it recharge me, but it clears my mind of any fog or overwhelm… everything is possible here. While it is an amazing practice to carve out these dedicated times, what I have come to realize is that stillness is all around us, whenever we need it, we just need to recognize it. Stillness, it turns out, is not a time or place, but a space within ourselves that we can visit and enjoy whenever we like just by allowing it. What common advice do you love to share with your clients that you would like to share with our audience? Finding stillness has allowed me to make so many meaningful changes in my life that I really encourage anyone interested in improving their experience to play with it. Here are the things

and “to-do’s” of a busy life, I could really focus on and care for myself. I began using this time practicing meditation, journaling, visualization, this expanded to include stretching and exercising and practicing self-care.

I practice most often in the stillness: * Breathing exercises: There are a lot of different exercises and methods for breathing exercises, but by using any of them, just focusing on the breath is a sure way to start experiencing stillness. * Meditation: Again, there are a lot of different takes on this, so don’t get hung up on trying to “do it right.” One of the main benefits I have found from meditation is getting comfortable being with yourself and more importantly, listening to yourself without judgement. * Journaling: This one is so huge! This has been instrumental in overcoming overwhelm for me. This is another activity that if you focus on “the right way,” you will lose the benefit. I have changed the way I journal many times. This is a way for the inner you to communicate, whether it is random thoughts, organized actions to take or a record of what you experience in the stillness, it can allow you to get to know yourself so much better. Remember, your muscles do not grow when you work out, they grow when you rest, and likewise, you grow in the stillness, not in the hustle and bustle of the day.

Laura Wieck :: JOURNEY WITH STILLNESS, A MEDITATION

a guided meditation

Sink into a guided meditation with Laura, “...these are the moments where I allow myself to feel still, to literally get into stillness, that’s when I feel life expand...” (CLICK THE IMAGE ABOVE TO PLAY THE VIDEO.)

Lori Hoffer :: SNAPSHOTS OF STILLNESS

All the lights have turned off. Peering out the window, watching the slow movement of the moon working its way across the blueblack sky. A few stars shimmering, asking to be seen. I glance at the clock. 2am. “I should go to bed.” There’s that “should” that likes to show up. The fact is… I don’t really want to. Finally, there is a sense of quiet. Of the slowing of the world around me. Things are at rest. Noise is limited.

stillness... .. ...

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Snuggled on my couch under the weighted blanket.

Standing in the shower. The warmth of the pulsing water hitting my body. I close my eyes and I can feel individual drops. Landing. Grasping for just a moment. Then rolling down toward my feet. I feel the movement. They cling to stay in their spot and then surrender and venture off to explore the textures and curves of my skin. I could stay here all day. A sense of quiet in my mind. Of peace. Of being. Of surrender to the moment.

stillness... .. ...

I’m sitting on my oversized chair. Red chenille. Crying. There is no rest or recharge between having a newborn, doing massage, running a home, running a business — everyone’s needs came before mine.

Standing. Face to face. Arms wrapped around each other. Nestled in for the perfect fit. Embraced in a hug. Breathing in sync.

I’m utterly exhausted.

Heart to heart.

The phone rings.

The mind is as clear and blank as freshly wiped glass. No thoughts to distract. Fully present in the moment.

It’s my sister. I’d left her a message earlier. We don’t talk often. Yet, her call isn’t a surprise. Wiping my tears and steadying my voice. “Hi, Kira. How are you?” “Lori. Dad’s dead.”

Together in

stillness... .. ...

Shocking. Painful. Hollow. Confusing. Disbelief. Like when a car comes to a quick stop and your body keeps going. Thank god for seatbelts. Those next few seconds as her words set in are an eternity of

stillness... .. ...

Lori Hoffer :: SNAPSHOTS OF STILLNESS

A hole in the earth welcomes us. Sometimes the hole was gaping. Sometimes it wasn’t much larger than us. Sometimes it was easy to find. Sometimes it hid amongst the grasses or brush. How many people have walked by this having no idea what’s possible when they stop and explore? Helmets on. Lighting the little flame on the carbide lamp to reflect light. Down into the hole. Walking, crawling, and wiggling our way through passages. Deeper and deeper into the earth. Farther and farther from the noise of the everyday world. The temperature of the air is always the same. 44

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Driving into the middle of nowhere, hiking up a hill.

Outside could be rain, snow, sweltering heat. In the cave, it’s a cool, predictable mid-50s. An element of knowing exactly what to expect in this world removed from the ever changing. Bats hang from the ceiling. Sleeping. Peaceful. Taking refuge to recharge before next flight. Deep inside the cave we stop, cut off the fuel to our lamps, and sit without words. Pure darkness. My hand remains invisible mere inches in front of my face. Yet, I can sense it. Heightened awareness in the

stillness... .. ...

The hum of the world surrounds me. Cars whirring by. The bus announcing its stop. Horns, sirens, a plane overhead. Kids chattering on their family walk. A whiff of cigarette from a neighbor. The lingering telltale skunky smell of a different smoke from another. Exhaust from a truck passing by. Surrounded by the sounds and smells of an urban world. Close my eyes. Focus more deeply. Inhale. Exhale. Repeat. Insects chirp. Or are they frogs? I can’t always tell them apart. Four different birds sharing their dreams with each other. Each with its own voice. The screech of a fox. Fresh cut grass. Mulch. Honeysuckle. Pollen. Roses. I can smell them together and each alone. The rustle of tall grass and trees in the wind. The flap of wings from travelers. I open my eyes. Looking up, I see the bright blue sky.

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Perched on my loveseat. Six stories up. Legs stretched out and resting on the railing.

“Utah Blue,” like the name of the paint I once used on my walls. That name didn’t lie. It’s exactly the color of the sky in the Utah mountains. Clouds of all kinds. Layered and living in harmony. Wispy and drawn out. Big, fluffy cotton balls. Scattered about. I didn’t know white comes in so many colors. I look down. Straight across from my balcony is a rare open area. And there on the other side of the fence I see my friends. They look up, Silently watching me, Still eating the overgrowth. “Hello. So happy to see you!” I call. They reply with a pause and glance at me with curiosity. These deer that visit Act as a powerful reminder That as the world rushes by I can stay present and grounded. I can fully embrace and embody. The sensual power. The heightened awareness of

stillness... .. ...

Lori Hoffer :: SNAPSHOTS OF STILLNESS

I have choices. Music or silence. Darkness or softly glowing lights. Lying down on my back The muffled sound of water trying to creep through the ear plugs. Tiny waves rock me as I effortlessly float. The lid lowers Releasing any need to move Releasing any need for control Releasing any need to do I simply feel, Cradled in

stillness... .. ...

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Stepping into the pod, Warmth swirls around my feet, Working its way between each toe.

Respite from the daily sensory onslaught. Room to breathe. A place of physical and mental pause and recharge. Heightened awareness Balance Escape Energetic hygiene Why would I want or need to navigate that? Can’t I just exist there? Finally, I can stop. I can simply BE. My world is self-guided When I choose

stillness... .. ...

Stillness comes in all fashions, as these snapshots above aim to capture. Sometimes it’s a chosen respite from the world, and sometimes it shows up as an unwelcome, breath-gasping surprise. Sometimes stillness is loud, boisterous, and full of movement. Other times, it sneaks up on me, like a ninja ready to pounce. It can even be a combination of both. It can feel eye-opening, enlightening, and scary as hell. Often all at once, as it invites thoughts, feelings, and realizations I’m not aware of or perhaps have done my best to tuck in the back of some drawer in my mind to explore “later.” In stillness, later can quickly become now, and I am face to face with the discomfort of my own existence and confusion in navigating a world that I often feel I don’t fit into at all.

For me, the beauty of navigating stillness lies in the pause and possibility. It lies in the snapshots in time that remind me of all I’ve been through and all I have to offer. The depth of my ability to be present in each moment, whether painful or delightful, and to breathe. Inhale. Exhale. Repeat. Honoring stillness in each moment keeps me moving forward. And forward is the direction I choose.

What beauty do you notice in stillness? How does it feel in your body when you allow yourself to stop and simply “be” in the moment?

It might seem contradictory, yet one of things I realized is that, for me, stillness comes through movement and walking. (CLICK THE IMAGE ABOVE TO PLAY THE VIDEO.)

Lori Hoffer :: SNAPSHOTS OF STILLNESS

LORINE HOFFER, LMT Certified BodyMind Coach, BodyMind Coaching Certification Program–Associate Coach, Big Change Facilitator

A childhood fascination with the body/mind connection led Lorine to a lifelong professional focus on helping clients ditch the stress patterns (and aches and pains!) keeping them stuck. Her skills flow from massage to education to psychology and entrepreneurship. This mighty arsenal uniquely qualifies her to help clients reconnect to themselves, partners and kids so they wake up feeling rested, confident, empowered and ready to own the day. Lorine loves to laugh, curse, explore nature, hang out with her insightful daughter, “get to the good stuff” in connected conversations and notice beauty in every day. Described as having both fierce compassion and fierce independence, she’ll hold space for you and hold you accountable to the big changes you’re ready to claim. LorineHoffer.com Lorine@LorineHoffer.com IG: @LorineHoffer FB: LorineHoffer / Lori Hoffer

cradled in stillness... #Be #Respite #InhaleExhale

What is it like to become a BodyMind Coach?

As a master coach and Licensed Massage Therapist with over 12 years experience, I know there’s a better way to work. How? Because I transformed my heart-centered, hands-on business myself.

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It’s my mission to give heart-centered therapists like you the tools to serve your clients and help them achieve lasting results, without you burning yourself out in the process.

Not so many years ago, I was where you might be right now: overworked, exhausted and on the brink of burnout.

When clients came in and lay on my table, I found many opened up and shared their stories. They’d talk about their stresses and frustrations, as well as their hopes and desires. Even when they weren’t actually talking, their bodies would also share stories of what they were ready to release and the dreams they were ready to fulfill. And when their hour was up, I’d spent around 30–45 minutes talking

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At the time I was working as a successful massage therapist. I had great retention rates, clients regularly referred their friends, and consequently, I was always booked solid.

through the self-care steps they should take themselves at home before our next session. IS THIS YOU? I knew my clients wouldn’t get lasting results unless I challenged them to address the habits, behavioral patterns, and limiting beliefs that created their stress in the first place and kept them coming back, session after session. The realization that massage could only really treat the symptoms of my clients’ stress and not the cause, led me to incorporate coaching conversations into my sessions. Once my clients realized the connection between their emotional wellbeing and their physical pain, everything changed. Instead of showing up for sessions having ignored all the aftercare advice I gave them the previous week, they actually began to implement it — willingly! I’ve since coached hundreds of clients using BodyMind Coaching, and now my team and I want to show you how you can use this powerful coaching conversation strategy to transform your business and accelerate your clients’ results, too. — Laura Wieck

Interested in becoming a BodyMind Coach? Click here for more information.

Laurie Juszkiewicz :: RELEASE THE GUILT & LEAN INTO STILLNESS

to the next, to the next, slowing down is not one of those gears. Pausing is not one of those gears. Stillness is not one of those gears. You know how when you’re at work and you are so looking forward to wrapping up for the day? It’s not that you don’t love what you do (or maybe that is the case), it’s just there is a tension, an almost constant pace that is kept and maintained throughout the day. Answering emails, solving problems, dealing with technical difficulties and the juggling act that goes with all of that. Even as I type this, I can feel the constant drum beat of productivity and solutions. It can be hard to come down off of that fast pace, to LET yourself come down from that drumbeat and release the hustle. Everyday, all day, we are navigating situations, stressful situations,

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In a world where we’re always shifting gears from one thing

anticipating, doing “all the things.” Then, someone or a social media meme says you need to rest, pause, be still. Wait, what? What do you mean pause, rest, and be still? When I see these well-intentioned posts, I think, How can we be still when our neural pathways have literally been wired to constantly be adapting, anticipating, surviving, and figuring out all the things? Our society, our culture teaches and shows us that being an amazing leader means that you can shift and adapt. And when you are doing the doing, adapting, filling in the gaps and the spaces as they arise, it can be difficult to then shift gears to pause, rest, and be still. Our daily, repeated activities create habits. It’s really no wonder when we get home or when it’s time to “punch out” from our job that it’s difficult to switch gears. We make these habits, these responses to our external environment all day long, and then when the clock says a particular time, we’re supposed to somehow be still? Yet, at the same time, somehow, my body knew there MUST be a gear in between. I didn’t choose stillness. Stillness chose me. One morning, I woke up and I was exhausted. My feet hit the floor and I was completely drained.

Laurie Juszkiewicz :: RELEASE THE GUILT & LEAN INTO STILLNESS

I was so burnt out that I couldn’t turn my neck to the left or to the right. When I got into my car to go to my office, I couldn’t even look over my shoulder to change lanes without intense pain. Up until this point in my life, I would allow myself to rest or be still when one of two criteria had been met. #1: I had surgery. #2: I had the flu. And when I say the flu, I mean the one when I was throwing up every 20 minutes. Head colds and Bronchitis, they didn’t count. Even when my body ached, I would tell myself, “Once you get moving, your muscles will loosen up, you’ll be fine.” This time was different though. THIS was the moment that I knew I had to figure out stillness. When I first started navigating stillness, guilt showed up immediately!! The guilt of “not doing.” The guilt of “not being productive.”

Wiped out. When I looked at my calendar to see what my day had in store, it was booked solid with massage clients. When I looked to see when my next day off was, it wasn’t for another 4 days. When I looked to see when my last day off had been, it had been 23 days before. I had worked for 3 weeks straight without a day off.

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The guilt of all the things that “I should be doing.” “I should be cleaning the house.” “I should be catching up on my paperwork.” “I should be doing my data entry for my taxes.” “I should be flipping a load of laundry.” “I should be food prepping.” “I should be making dinner.” “I should be returning that email.” “I should be washing my sheets for tomorrow’s clients.” The guilt showed up because in this moment I was literally rewiring my neuropathway. Stillness doesn’t just show up one day, and we maintain it forever and ever. It’s a practice. It takes time to cultivate and to become consistent with. It’s a rewiring of the brain. It’s releasing the way society and our culture says to “show up” and replacing that with YOUR way of doing things. YES, you get to do that!! How can you begin to navigate stillness? FIrst, I want to say that your path to stillness is yours to curate!! Yes, you get to create it. How I started navigating stillness was I simply asked myself, “How do I navigate stillness? What does stillness look like for me? What does stillness mean to me?” When you ask a question, you are asking for an answer. The answer 53

Laurie Juszkiewicz :: RELEASE THE GUILT & LEAN INTO STILLNESS

It’s not about all the things, it’s just about the willingness to allow stillness in your life, however it looks. (CLICK THE IMAGE ABOVE TO PLAY THE VIDEO.)

The space that you are holding when you ask the question allows the answer to come in. YOU are your own Google. You have an inner compass that is there with you as you navigate your path to stillness. Stillness IS the space where you stop relying on solely yourself and allow yourself to be supported and guided by a power greater than you, your Divine Compass. Oftentimes people will share that they don’t have the time for stillness. I believe we do have time for stillness. It just hides and is unintentionally spent in moments of distraction. 54

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always comes eventually. Ask yourself the question, get curious, and watch what shows up.

It’s in those moments when a notification pops up on the phone. Those moments of checking the inbox and getting sidetracked with another task and then another. The time for stillness is in those moments when you find yourself saying, ‘Let me just check this one thing and then I can be still… then, I can meditate or go outside and put my feet in the grass or grab that cup of coffee and my favorite book.’ Don’t check that one more thing! Don’t do it; it’s a trap. I have learned that the “one more thing” mantra is literally a form of self-sabotage! Don’t believe me? I’ll share with you when this happened to me and what it brought to my awareness. I remember one day in particular I was at my desk with the full intention of just checking ONE thing, just ONE thing BEFORE

I completed the task but not before another notification popped up on my computer. I said “okay, one more thing and then I’ll go meditate.” Then another notification and another and another popped up. It was the blackhole of “all the things” notifications. Before I knew it, TWO WHOLE HOURS had gone by. I hadn’t meditated, I hadn’t showered, or even brushed my teeth and I was out of time! I was snatched up into the drum beat of the hustle. Just. Like. That.

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going to my stillness practice (which for me is many different things, but on this day it was meditation) when I saw a notification pop up on my computer. I said to myself, I’ll just check this ONE notification and then I will go meditate.

How many times have you been able to look at just ONE thing without having TEN more things pop up, and before you know it TWO hours (or longer) have gone by and you still haven’t showered, brushed your teeth, let alone done your stillness practice? And of the shower, brushing teeth, and stillness practice, which one gets cut? Yep, the stillness practice. I believe that there is a force that does NOT want us to be still for if we were still, we would find out just how powerful we truly are. This force hides itself in notifications, drama, checking just one more thing, and mindless scrolling, just to name a few. It will do anything to keep you from connecting to your power source, which is within YOU! Your answers are literally within you! 55

Laurie Juszkiewicz :: RELEASE THE GUILT & LEAN INTO STILLNESS

It was in those moments where I was taking care of myself and nourishing myself that I allowed stillness into my life. I had surrendered and I totally found it by accident. Stillness wasn’t about not moving. Stillness wasn’t about physically being still. Stillness was about me being still from “all the doing” that I came into this space of being, of not relying on myself that then my answers could come to me, effortlessly. Stillness is the vehicle. Cultivating my own stillness practice in a way that worked for me gave me the permission to just state my intention, or ask my question of what I hoped to receive or walk away with and that was enough to connect to myself, my spirit, universe, God, insert your higher power here. It wasn’t about giving up, it was about GIVING OVER to stillness and allowing myself to be supported. It was a huge moment for me in my life, and I began to keep track of what helped me cultivate my practice of stillness and how I navigated stillness, so that now I get to help my clients as they are beginning their journey to give

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In my moments of burnout and distraction, I realized that I had redefined stillness and what it meant to me. I had begun to cultivate a practice of stillness that was mine.

themselves permission for their stillness practice to not look like what they think it should! Your willingness is all it takes. When you think about being still you realize that nothing is ever really still. Life is always moving all around us. The breeze is blowing through the trees, the ripple of that tiny leaf landing in the water creating another ripple, the clouds, the sun, the moon, your heartbeat, everything is always moving. Let this be the permission you need to let your stillness practice not be about being physically still because there isn’t any such thing. It’s about letting your mind be still so that you allow yourself to be supported. That’s what it means to me anyway. What does it mean to you? What does navigating stillness look like for you? It all starts with asking the question and watching what shows up. “Life moves pretty fast. If you don’t stop and look around once in a while, you could miss it.” ―Ferris Bueller

stillness is the vehicle

LAURIE JUSZKIEWICZ Bodymind Certified Coach, Manifesting & Money Coach, Bodymind Coaching Lead Associate Coach & Community Manager, Enrollment Team

Laurie owns and operates her own private coaching practice where she is a manifesting and money coach. She combines her magical woo energy with practical and tangible steps as she guides her clients on a journey inward to discover how they can become financially free from the inside out. She uses Bodymind Coaching as a tool to help her clients uncover their internal beliefs and alignment in the relationship that co-exists between them and the energy of money. When not coaching, Laurie is outside in her zen den or floating in her pool with her family relaxing and just BEing. Laurie loves riding her bike, reading, learning everything she can, traveling to Maui, cooking and playing with her dogs Clarke & Phoebe.

HarmonyBalanceFlow.com laurie@harmonybalanceflow.com linktr.ee/lauriejuszkiewicz FB: Laurie Juszkiewicz FB: Being You Financially Free IG: @laurie_juszkiewicz 57

BODYMIND LIVING AMBASSADORS JULY 2021

As the owner of Intentional Flow Mary Pat Curran coaches her clients using her gifts of presence and possibility. Mary Pat (MP) was an educator of adults & youth for 13 years prior to attending massage school. In 2013 she opened her own business and in 2018 began offering BodyMind Coaching as a missing piece for her clients’ transformation. Mary Pat loves helping her clients learn more about themselves so that they can grow into their intentions without having to become someone else to succeed. Through embodying their unique values, goals, & desires. MP’s clients not only reach their goals, they become who they are meant to be. Originally from Chicago, Mary Pat currently resides in Lexington, Kentucky with her hubby, children and dog. IntentionalFlow@gmail.com FB: Intentional Flow IG: @IntentionalFlow LI: Mary Pat Curran

DENA HALLE, LMT, ACT/L BodyMind Coach, BA Sports Medicine, Licensed Athletic Trainer

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BodyMind Coach

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MARY PAT CURRAN, LMT

LORINE HOFFER, LMT Certified BodyMind Coach, BodyMind Coaching Certification Program– Associate Coach, Big Change Facilitator

A childhood fascination with the body/mind connection led Lorine to a lifelong professional focus on helping clients ditch the stress patterns (and aches and pains!) keeping them stuck. Her skills flow from massage to education to psychology and entrepreneurship. This mighty arsenal uniquely qualifies her to help clients reconnect to themselves, partners and kids so they wake up feeling rested, confident, empowered and ready to own the day. Described as having both fierce compassion and fierce independence, Lorine loves to laugh, curse, explore nature, hang out with her insightful daughter, “get to the good stuff” in connected conversations and notice beauty in every day. LorineHoffer.com Lorine@LorineHoffer.com IG: @LorineHoffer FB: LorineHoffer / Lori Hoffer FB: Life Connected

Manager, Enrollment Team

Laurie owns and operates her own private coaching practice where she is a manifesting and money coach. She combines her magical woo energy with practical and tangible steps as she guides her clients on a journey inward to discover how they can become financially free from the inside out. When not coaching, Laurie is outside in her zen den or floating in her pool with her family relaxing and just BEing. Laurie loves riding her bike, reading, learning everything she can, traveling to Maui, cooking and playing with her dogs Clarke & Phoebe. HarmonyBalanceFlow.com laurie@harmonybalanceflow.com linktr.ee/lauriejuszkiewicz FB: Laurie Juszkiewicz FB: Being You Financially Free IG: @laurie_juszkiewicz

CAROLYN YANIT ULITSKY BodyMind Coach Muscle Therapist

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Bodymind Certified Coach, Manifesting & Money Coach, Bodymind Coaching Lead Associate Coach & Community

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LAURIE JUSZKIEWICZ

HALINKA VAN MINNEN Certified BodyMind Coach

Imagine feeling calm, peaceful, and grounded as you begin your day with your morning tea ritual. It’s a complete sensory experience. Seeing the glorious colors of Mother Nature’s bountiful gifts as the dried herbs cascade into your sacred tea mug. Hearing the kettle whistle its triumphant song. Smelling the aromatic bouquet of scents as your tea gently steeps. Tenderly wrapping your hands around the warm mug, soaking in its cozy, comforting energy. And the best part of all… tasting the flavorful herbal tea blend that you know was created with loving kindness and gratitude for all living beings, human and plant alike. All your senses come together each morning to rewire your neural pathway and train your brain to start the day in a relaxed and easeful state of mind. In your embodiment. A cup of calm amongst the chaos. Some extra digestive support for when you just can’t stomach the news cycle. Support to help you sleep through the night so that you wake feeling rested and energized. Focus and concentration for getting those words on paper and those emails out to your client list to move your vision for your business forward.

Your own personal retreat right in the comfort of your home. Starting the day centered in yourself, rooted in your values, open to what’s possible as the light of day casts its golden morning glow. Inviting nature INTO your work day with your sacred tea ritual. Knowing that whatever comes your way, you’ve got what it takes to navigate it all when you start your day connected to your body and to the earth! This is how Radical Remedies supports you with their customized teas, and other organic, plant based products.